Across the globe, one out of three women have been affected by Gender based violence (GBV), with 35% of women worldwide having experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. However, what’s this “big monster” turned global pandemic. 

In Uganda, at least 56% of women aged 15-49 have suffered physical or sexual violence by their partner, according to data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Moreover, 17,698 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2022, according to the Uganda Police annual crime report. 13,052 of them were women, making up for 76% of the total reported cases.  

What is Gender based violence?

Gender- based violence refers to any harm inflicted upon an individual or to a group (women or men) because of their socially perceived roles, responsibilities and status.

What is gender?

Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviors and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other.

Is gender-based violence only against women and girls?

No, women and men experience gender-based violence, however, the most vulnerable victims of GBV are women and girls.

What are the forms of Gender based violence?

Physical violence: This refers to any act or behavior which causes physical harm as a result of physical force. This can include serious and minor assault, for example, punching, slapping, pushing, throwing objects, burning, and throwing a person out of the house with force, as well as deprivation of liberty and manslaughter.

Sexual violence: This refers to any sexual act or behavior performed on an individual without their consent. This can be in form of rape or sexual assault. It can occur within marriage or in the context of intimate relationships, for example forcing one’s partner into sex. 

Psychological violence: This refers to any act or behavior which causes psychological harm to an individual. This form of abuse is not always easy to recognize, as it doesn't leave physical scars but can have severe and lasting effects on a person's mental health. It can include verbal insults, humiliation, manipulation, coercion, defamation, withholding affection, gaslighting, control, and isolation, among others.

Economic violence: This refers to any act or behavior which causes economic harm to an individual. It involves controlling, manipulating, or restricting an individual's financial resources with the intent to exert power and control over them. This form of violence can occur within various relationships, including intimate partnerships and familial connections.

Harmful traditional practices: Acts by specific cultures, where girls and women are undervalued and considered second-class citizens with fewer rights. These include forced marriages, female genital mutilation, among others.

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What are the major causes of Gender-Based Violence?

• Harmful gender stereotypes and patriarchal cultures: Stereotypes such as men are aggressive, controlling, and dominant, while women are docile, meek, subservient, or men are providers and women are property justify violence against women.
• Conflicts, crises and displacement: In times of conflict and crises, women and girls are the most vulnerable.  Often at times, sexual violence continues to be used as a means of warfare in armed conflicts. Additionally, during crisis, families resort to marrying off their daughters at an early age as a desperate response to ensure safety and financial security for their daughters, whereas older women may turn to sexual exploitation to survive.
• Poverty: Even outside of conflict zones, families in need of funds will turn to forcing girls aged 15 to 18years into forced marriages to reduce their bills and earn financial support from their sons-in-law.
• Alcohol and substance abuse: On being addicted to alcohol and substance abuse, several men tend to beat their wives in exchange for monies made by their wives so as to take alcohol, as well as resort to physical assault and marital rape of their wives following alcohol and substance influence.

How to communicate to survivors of Gender based violence

Open, Not Closed:  Through minding one’s body language, that is to say, uncrossing arms, looking at the survivor or leaning forward, it shows the victim that you are interested in communicating, thereby, causing them to open up to you and narrate their ordeal.

Encourage, Don’t Push: The giving of time for people to think, coupled with making of comments like, “Tell me more about that” or by just nodding one’s head can help victims of GBV to feel safe and open up.

Support, Don’t Judge: Simply remind people that you are there to support them, without judging, for it can help them feel accepted and reduce their feelings of stigma and shame.

Listen More, Speak Less: Giving people the opportunity to speak can make people feel heard and important.

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How to Support survivors of Gender based violence

Reach Out: The first step in providing positive support to GBV survivors is to reach out to them when you hear, see or feel that something is wrong. However, it’s important to reach out to them in a way that’s safe for both you and the woman you are helping, to contact you when her partner or others aren’t around, don’t reach out in the middle of a violent episode on your own, at least ask other persons to accompany you.

Listen: Ensure you listen, for when you listen to someone, you demonstrate solidarity, care and concern.

Validate: Validation means assuring a woman that she is not to blame and demonstrate that you understand and believe her. With statements such as, “It’s not your fault”, “I believe you”, the victim feels supported and open up more.

Enhance Safety: From the first moment of meeting the victim and throughout interactions, it’s important to assess and enhance the survivor’s safety. This involves asking questions about whether they are uncomfortable with something or worried and brainstorm safety options with them.

Refer: You can help GBV survivors get more specialized forms of support such as healthcare, counseling or police services by letting them know what kind of services exist in your area, as well as discuss and help them on how they can access the said services.

Follow Up: As change is a long-term process and isn’t easy. It’s essential to follow up overtime and see how things are progressing and if different support is needed.

What services could help a GBV survivor?

Experiencing any kind of gender-based violence affects a person’s well-being. There are various services and interventions available for survivors. These are meant to restore their dignity and support them in seeking justice. These may include but are not limited to:

The urgent and life-saving medical care that involves proper treatment and infection prevention for GBV survivors. These services are available free of charge to all refugees and asylum seekers at public (government) health facilities in Uganda.

One-on-one counseling, emotional and psychosocial support

Support for survivors seeking justice and legal assistance. GBV survivors in Refugee settlements in Uganda can get free legal assistance.

Where to report

To report a case of GBV, there are several places where can report.

Local Council 1 (LC.1)

One can report to the nearest LC.1 to ensure immediate safety for the survivor, preserve evidence for support options. The LC.1 may make referral to appropriate security actors such as police or the probation office. The concerns raised must be addressed immediately to avoid evidence loss.

Police

The survivor, his or her relatives or a witness should report to the nearest police station, to ensue immediate safety of the survivor and to preserve evidence for court action. In case of defilement or rape, a survivor must be taken for medical examination within 72 hours. The police may refer a victim to a shelter or for psychosocial counseling.

Health Practitioner

Reach out to a medical practitioner to offer necessary medical assistance to the survivor. To prevent HIV infection or STIs, post-exposure prophylaxis (PE) should be administered within 72 hours.

If the medical practitioner suspects domestic violence, they should document the visit and inform the survivor of the options available within the judicial and psychosocial support system.

Psychosocial service providers

Reach out to them to help survivors overcome trauma and social stigma. This should be confidential. Subsequently, these could help the survivor to understand the legal options and necessary steps to pursue justice.

Traditional/ religious/Community leaders

These could be reached out to in a bid of counseling married couples to end domestic violence. However, these do not handle capital and sexual offences, as they have to be referred to the police. In case of defilement/rape, the survivor must be taken for medical examination within 72 hours to prevent HIV infection and within 3 days to avoid unwanted pregnancies. 

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Below is the GBV referral pathway for Kyaka II refugee settlement.

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